On the calm, sunlit fringe of Barbados’s shoreline, a seasoned diver recalls a striking find from the deep. While gliding over a sandy patch near the reefs and running a metal detector along the seabed, he uncovered a ring that had vanished from memory long ago. Its loss was tied to a 1977 incident that had appeared in a UPI report, a detail that gave the tale a sliver of public history. The moment of discovery carried a quiet weight—an invitation to trace a personal story across time and oceans and to try to return a keepsake to the person who once treasured it.
Alex Davis held the ring in the light and examined its surface closely. The band bore the initials FMP and an engraved 1965 date, a combination that suggested a strong connection to a longtime owner. He chose to contact McMaster University in Hamilton, asking for help in locating the ring’s rightful owner and steering the piece back to its home in a respectful, documented way.
Karen McQuigg, director of alumni relations at McMaster, and a small team began a careful search of the university databases. They quickly landed on a plausible lead: Morgan Perigo. After reaching out with the discovery details, it became clear that the ring had been lost during a family holiday in Barbados in 1977 and had not resurfaced for decades. The initials and the date provided the bridge needed to confirm Morgan’s ownership.
With permission to proceed, Davis arranged for the ring to be sent back by courier, ensuring secure packaging and clear tracking. The timing added a layer of wonder: the delivery arrived as Morgan reached his 83rd birthday, turning a routine retrieval into a memorable surprise that would be cherished for years to come.
Morgan’s response underscored the emotional power of such recoveries. He remarked, “What a wonderful and unexpected gift for my 83rd birthday,” a sentiment that captured the warmth of the reunion. The story sits alongside another recent example of a ring reappearing after decades on a golf course, reminding readers that good keepsakes sometimes find their way back when someone chooses to look again.”